Elements Truffles - Orange Crunch Dark Chocolate (bar) - June 11, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Elements Truffles
Orange Crunch Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar (part of a 4-pk. order)
Purchased from: Amazon, online order 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Orange Crunch Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) was from Elements Truffles (Union City, NJ).

The cacao used to make this chocolate was "Fair trade cacao ethically sourced from Ecuador."

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: dark chocolate, subtle sweet citrus and slightly savory spice (turmeric) -- e.g. the very faint aroma of pickled peppers/beets and barely detectable earthy, spiced lentils. The chocolate was balanced and smooth in flavor.

Texture: this chocolate was smooth with a creamy (cocoa butter and honey) melt and mouthfeel with occasional softly crunchy/crispy quinoa pieces.

I enjoyed the relatively short list of quality and organic ingredients; the subtlety of the flavors; and the honey (smooth texture and subtle sweetness). Those with a sweet tooth may miss the customary refined sugar; but I was fine without the sugar buzz. 

And I appreciated the addition of turmeric, in the Ayurvedic tradition (for health).* This ground spice imparted a distinct flavor, but wasn't too overwhelming.

Ingredients: Organic Cacao Butter, Raw Honey, Organic Cacao Powder, Organic Puffed Quinoa, Organic Turmeric Powder, Orange Essential Oil

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that processes nuts

*Turmeric contains curcumin which is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. (Curcumin can interfere with certain cellular signaling pathways associated with inflammation, and may inhibit certain inflammatory enzymes.)

Dick Taylor Chocolate - Lemon & Bergamot 65% Belize (bar) - June 10, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Dick Taylor Chocolate
Lemon & Bergamot 65% Belize (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++ 
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 300 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Citrus Week, featuring a series of chocolates with citrus flavor inclusions.

Today's Dick Taylor Lemon & Bergamot 65% Belize (bar) was made by Dick Taylor Chocolate (Eureka, CA)--a company founded by serial creatives and skilled chocolate makers Adam Dick and Dustin Taylor.

The cacao used to make this bar was sourced from Maya Mountain Cacao in southern Belize, a region steeped in cacao cultivation history.

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweet citrus (lemon); smooth, very slightly fruity dark chocolate; and faint fruity-floral tea (bergamot) notes.

This chocolate bar broke with a well-tempered snap, and was quite smooth in texture, melt and mouthfeel. Sprinkled across the back of the bar: tiny sparkles of crystallized, lemon-flavored sugar.   

This bright citrus star of a bar would make an excellent dessert bar after a meal, or a high-end snack. It was sweet (without being overly so) and relatively addictive. 

Maker's tasting notes/description: "Tart crystallized lemon and a hint of bergamot oil are mixed into our silky 65% Belize dark chocolate. The blend of bergamot and lemon creates a perfect balance of citrus brightness and floral undertones." 

Ingredients: Cacao*, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*, Crystallized Lemon (Citric Acid, Lemon Oil, Lemon Juice), Bergamot Oil (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: Processed on Equipment with milk, tree nuts, wheat and peanuts. 

Argencove Fine Chocolate - Cardamom & Orange 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Nicaragua (bar) - June 9, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Argencove Fine Chocolate
Cardamom & Orange 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Nicaragua (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 273 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Citrus Week.

Today's Cardamom & Orange 70% Dark Chocolate Nicaragua (bar) was from Argencove Fine Chocolate (Granada, Nicaragua).*

Aroma notes for today's spice and citrus bar included: fragrant cardamom, slightly savory spice, orange and subtle, almost buttery dark chocolate.

Texture: relatively soft, creamy, and smooth. The cardamom and orange were completely incorporated into the chocolate.

Flavor notes were enjoyably complex and balanced and included: smooth dark chocolate infused with balanced sweet-tart citrus (orange), spice (cardamom), and very faint slightly earthy floral-herbal (think saffron, cardamom and turmeric vegetable stew with rice).

I loved the blend of unique, complex and complementary spice, citrus and cacao notes, and the

short list of quality and local (Nicaragua-grown) ingredients.

Ingredients: Cacao, sugar, cocoa butter, cardamom, orange.

Allergen-related information: May contain traces of peanuts and/or tree nuts due to shared equipment.

*Manufactured by C y B Productos Agricolas S.A. (Granada, Nicaragua).

The Organic House - Chocolate Covered Maple Candied Orange Slices - June 8, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

The Organic House 
Chocolate Covered Maple Candied Orange Slices
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: .706 oz. (20 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total package 
Calories: 70 calories (estimate) in 1 piece/slice 
Cost: $22.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Citrus Week.

Today's Chocolate Covered Maple Candied Orange Slices were from The Organic House (Burlington, Ontario, Canada). 

The company is a bean-to-bar chocolate maker that specializes in vegan, gluten- and dairy-free, and organic chocolate bars and confections made with ethically-sourced cacao.

Aroma notes for today's chocolate and maple sugar covered, dehydrated orange slices included: citrus (orange, orange peel), maple sugar cake and dark chocolate.

Texture: chewy, authentic orange slices; lightly textured, authentic maple sugar and coconut flower nectar; partly covered by a smooth dark chocolate. 

Flavor notes included: high-quality, authentic maple sugar and dried orange slices flavor, and smooth dark chocolate. The maple and coconut flower nectar added a rich flavor of their own as well.

I appreciated the short list of quality, local (Ontario maple sugar) ingredients.  

Ingredients: "Oranges, Ontario maple sugar, cacao beans, coconut flower nectar, cacao butter"

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that uses tree nuts. "Vegan, Non-GMO, Gluten Free"

Mirzam - 62% Dark Chocolate with Candied Oranges & Orange Infused Toffee (bar) - June 7, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mirzam Chocolate Makers
62% Dark Chocolate with Candied Oranges & Orange Infused Toffee (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 73 calories in 1/2 bar (per label - 208 kcals per 100 g.)
Cost: $18.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate & Citrus Week, featuring bars and confections with a citrus flavor inclusion.

Today's 62% Dark Chocolate with Candied Oranges & Orange Infused Toffee (bar) from Mirzam Chocolate Makers was "made from bean bar in Dubai, United Arab Emirates" -- "crafted in collaboration with: @zandzdc."

Aroma notes included: lovely aromatic orange (ripe orange fruit, candied orange peel) and dark chocolate.

Texture: lots of crunchy orange toffee bits and creamy smooth dark chocolate.

Flavor notes included: orange-infused toffee bits encased in a smooth dark chocolate bar. 

Citrus lovers will really appreciate this high-end exotic citrus bar. This was a well-executed and balanced orange-zilla dark chocolate confection. The orange had some authentic zing but was not bitter or acidic. The dark chocolate balanced and complemented the sweet citrus elements, and played more of a supporting role. 

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, unrefined cane sugar, cocoa butter, butter, orange sweet oil, orange peel, glucose.

Allergen-related information: Contains dairy (butter). May contain traces of nuts and gluten. 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates - Puffed Quinoa (bar) - June 6, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Puffed Quinoa Melk (R) Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 1 oz. (28 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 80 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.87 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Quinoa Theme Week.

Today's Puffed Quinoa Melk (R) Chocolate Bar was from Sjaak's Chocolates (Petaluma, CA).*

The company was one of the first producers of organic and alternative milk (rice milk) chocolates that I became aware of two decades ago--when I started Chocolate Banquet.

Aroma notes included: subtle cocoa, faint vanilla and faint nut/seed/rice.  

Texture: creamy and crunchy

I liked the gentle flavors; this rice, almond and quinoa likely softened the cacao flavor. The smaller bar size was nice too. And the sweetness level was about right--it was sweet, but somehow not overly so.

Ingredients: Melk Chocolate* (Cocoa Butter*, Rice Milk Powder*, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Liquor*, Almonds*, Vanilla Bean Powder*), Puffed Quinoa*. (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains: Almonds

*Sjaak's chocolate shop origins dates back to 1988 with a fine chocolate shop in Eureka, CA. Although founder-owner Jacques Holten's interest in chocolate extends back much further, to his European roots.

In 2004, Jacques and his daughter founded Sjaak's Organic Chocolates with a focus on vegan and Organic chocolates. Sjaak's closed down in their Petaluma location over a year ago; and this chocolate was expired by the time I tasted it. But it still tasted ok to me.

Mezcla - Puff-Crispy Bar - Italian Pistachio Chocolate - June 5, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mezcla 
Puff-Crispy Bar - Italian Pistachio Chocolate
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.40 oz. (40 g.) in 1 bar/package
Calories: 170 calories in 1 bar/package 
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar/package

Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Fremont, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Quinoa Theme Week. 

Today's Mezcla Puff-Crispy (TM) Bar Italian Pistachio Chocolate with pea protein, almond butter & quinoa (bar) was distributed by Eat Mezcla Inc. (NY, NY).

Aroma and flavor notes included: chocolate, sweetened cereal, seed, nut, and very faint vanilla/cookie.

Texture: satisfying crispy and crunchy texture. It was light, yet I had a substantial feeling of satiety that comes with a higher protein offering. Smooth almond butter and dark chocolate complemented the crunchy pea protein and quinoa crisps.

This attractively packaged bar provided a convenient source of portable protein (10 grams in 1 bar). 

The pistachio nuts (and hazelnuts) were very subtle; so much so that I almost missed them; but (along with the almond butter) these nuts contributed a nutty background flavor. Other than possibly the "Natural Flavor",* the ingredients list looked quite healthy and authentic.

Ingredients: Pea Crisps (pea protein, rice starch), Tapioca Syrup, Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Chocolate Liquor, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Vanilla Powder), Vegetable Glycerine, Almond Butter, Quinoa Crisps (Quinoa), Prebiotic Soluble Tapioca Fiber, Tapioca Fiber, Pistachios, Pea Protein, Coconut Oil, Vanilla Extract, Natural Flavor, Sea Salt, Hazelnuts.

Allergen-related information: "Contains Tree Nuts (Almond, Coconut, Hazelnut, Pistachio). Manufactured on Equipment That Processes Dairy, Peanut, Sesame, Soy, Tree Nuts, and Egg."

*Natural Flavor(s) includes a broad category of additives derived from plants and animals and are often added to processed foods. Apologies to the maker, but I find bars with added "Natural Flavor(s)" do not taste as good.